| Dozent/in |
Dr. Marius Ghincea |
| Veranstaltungsart |
Hauptseminar |
| Code |
FS261626 |
| Semester |
Frühjahrssemester 2026 |
| Durchführender Fachbereich |
Politikwissenschaft |
| Studienstufe |
Bachelor
Master |
| Termin/e |
wöchentlich (Mo), ab 23.02.2026, 16:15 - 18:00 Uhr, 4.B54 |
| Umfang |
2 Semesterwochenstunden |
| Turnus |
Wöchentlich |
| Inhalt |
This course examines the evolution and current state of Europe’s security architecture in an era of renewed great power rivalry. We will explore how institutions like NATO, the European Union (EU), and the OSCE have shaped European security from the Cold War to the present, and how great power competition – involving the United States, Russia, and China – is redefining that architecture today. The course goes beyond security institutions to address non-traditional security challenges such as energy security, climate change, migration, and the rise of nationalism within Europe. We will pay special attention to Switzerland’s unique role as a neutral country within Europe’s security framework. Through a mix of classic foundational readings and up-to-date analyses, students will engage with both historical context and contemporary debates – including NATO’s post-Cold War evolution, the impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine, and Europe’s pursuit of “strategic autonomy” amid shifting U.S. engagement.
Key questions include: Can Europe achieve greater collective defense capacity or “strategic autonomy,” or do enduring capability gaps mean continued reliance on the U.S. security umbrella? How do non-aligned states like Switzerland contribute to or adapt within the European security system? And how are non-military threats (energy supply shocks, refugee flows, hybrid warfare) reshaping the concept of security in Europe? |
| Lernziele |
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Understand Key Institutions and History: Describe the development of Europe’s security architecture since 1945, including the roles of NATO, the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy, the OSCE, and neutral states (like Switzerland). This includes understanding historical turning points such as the Cold War alliance system, the post-Cold War NATO expansion, and NATO–Russia relations.
2. Analyze Great Power Dynamics: Explain how great power competition has impacted European security, from U.S.–Soviet rivalry to the contemporary U.S.–Russia and U.S.–China contexts. Students will critically assess arguments about NATO’s expansion, Russia’s strategic motives, and Europe’s efforts toward strategic autonomy (e.g. debating views like Mearsheimer’s claim that NATO expansion provoked instability versus alternative viewpoints).
3. Evaluate Non-Traditional Security Challenges: Identify and evaluate emerging security challenges beyond traditional military threats – including energy security, climate change, migration, and information warfare. Students will explore how issues like Europe’s dependence on Russian energy (highlighted by the 2022 gas crisis) and migration crises affect stability and policy. They will also examine internal challenges such as the rise of illiberal nationalism and their implications for European cohesion.
4. Case Study Application: Apply theoretical concepts to concrete case studies. Two focal cases are Switzerland’s security policy and the Russia–Ukraine war. Students will assess Switzerland’s longstanding neutrality – sometimes called a “neutrality trap” if not updated to modern threats – and discuss how Switzerland and other neutrals fit into European security cooperation. In examining the Ukraine war, students will analyze its implications for European security and the international order, including how it has forced the EU to overhaul its security policy while exposing core weaknesses in EU defense capabilities.
5. Critical Thinking and Synthesis: Critically engage with diverse perspectives (academic, policy, primary-source) and synthesize insights in written and oral form. This includes weighing classical scholarly arguments against current policy analyses and articulating informed opinions on questions like the future of NATO or the feasibility of a new European security architecture.
6. Communication and Collaboration: Develop skills in articulating arguments through class discussions, presentations, and written policy briefs. Given the seminar’s collaborative nature, students will also gain experience in teamwork (e.g. co-leading a discussion or simulation) and in giving/receiving constructive feedback on ideas. |
| Voraussetzungen |
None |
| Sprache |
Englisch |
| Anmeldung |
***Wichtig*** Um Credits zu erwerben ist die Anmeldung zur Lehrveranstaltung über das UniPortal zwingend erforderlich. Die Anmeldung ist ab zwei Wochen vor bis zwei Wochen nach Beginn des Semesters möglich. An- und Abmeldungen sind nach diesem Zeitraum nicht mehr möglich. Die genauen Anmeldedaten finden Sie hier: http://www.unilu.ch/ksf/semesterdaten |
| Leistungsnachweis |
Presentation, essay, active participation (participaiton (attendance at the seminar, weekly short written comments, active participation in the sessions), exam
4 Credits |
| Abschlussform / Credits |
Aktive Teilnahme, Präsentation, Essay / 4 Credits
|
| Hörer-/innen |
Nach Vereinbarung |
| Kontakt |
marius.ghincea@eup.gess.ethz.ch |
| Literatur |
- Stanley Sloane. 2020. Defense of the West: Transatlantic security from Truman to Trump, Second edition. Manchester University Press.
- Cooley, A. and Nexon, D., 2020. Exit from hegemony: The unraveling of the American global order. Oxford University Press.
Further literature tbd
|